The Sun Devils took home the Territorial Cup after their dismantling of Arizona last week in Tempe. With that victory they tallied six on the year and now await the selection committee’s decision to see what bowl game they will be taking part in this season. While that waiting game is played, ASU and coach Graham will still have another game to play against the Cal Golden Bears this Saturday in the season finale of regular season college football in the state of Arizona.
Finishing Where It Started
It almost seemed like poetic justice this season that the Sun Devils started the year off as a ranked squad and would face the Golden Bears in their season finale. Analysts thought the team would play a big part in running the table for the Pac-12 championship this season and instead found themselves struggling to create a winning streak through most of the year. The start of the Graham era was marked during a strong win against Cal almost three years ago that gave the Sun Devils their signature win that began a rise to notoriety within the conference. Perhaps the game against Cal is all Graham needs to get his team back into the winning ways for the next few years again. This year’s Cal team is a lot different from the match they played back in 2012 but it could provide a strong platform for those who will be returning to the team next year to stand on and build towards another string of successes for the Sun Devils. However a win in Berkeley this season has not been easy to find for visitors as the Bears have only lost at home once this year to a strong USC team that made the life of Jared Goff miserable with his two interceptions that day. If ASU can get turnovers that could spell doom for the home squad on this road trip.
Goff Finale In The Works?
Every year the NFL whispers in the ear of talented college players about coming into the draft early as opposed to after a senior season with the arguments of draft stock and injury fears. Jared Goff is one such player in the Pac-12 that could look for an early entrance into the draft in 2016 and perhaps earn some middle to low first round grades by some scouts in the NFL. The iron is hot for Goff and with a senior season a mystery to all in regards to his performance at the collegiate level in 2016 he may decide to apply and leave Cal to decide on another quarterback. This season has been terrific for Goff as he was in the consideration early for the Heisman and with many players falling out of the running such as Leonard Fournette from LSU and Ezekiel Elliot from Ohio State he may get some looks from voters in the Pac-12. He will need a big game however to outshine fellow conference standouts such as Luke Falk from Washington State and Christian McCaffrey from Stanford. ASU may just run into a buzz saw in Goff who not only may be looking to boost his Heisman status, but make a few more scouts turn their attention to the Golden Bears this Saturday.
Bercovici Getting Safe With Deep Throws
California is going to be struggling this week with their pass defense if Mike Bercovici can get his way. The Bears will be playing with a third-string safety and the team apparently isn’t even sure who it will be when they make the final adjustments going into kickoff. Damariay Drew is sitting out this week with a knee injury as well as Griffin Piatt who is done with a broken collarbone. Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy once said that depth is great until you have to use it and the Bears will have three names to look at for their safety position. The problem that follows that however is just how capable will any of the three players will be once game speed is reached and they have to adjust to live play. Bercovici has had a great season for the Sun Devils with his ability to get the ball down the field with his 3,000 plus yards through the air as well as 22 touchdowns going into the game. The only thing that has kept the signal caller in Tempe out of serious award discussion is that the offensive line has not done the job many thought they would in allowing 33 sacks this season, second in the conference behind Washington State. With a third-string safety the chances of coverage sacks may be unlikely so the Bears will have to bring the rush quickly. Bercovici has to move in the pocket and let his receivers shake off the coverage and beat the safety to the spot if the Sun Devils want to win this game. If not they could go into their bowl game suffering mental exhaustion, and that rarely translates into wins in the sport of football.
The game will kick off in Berkeley, California at 8:00 PM this Saturday on FS1.